Molecular study of Francisella spp. from ticks in hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in urban-suburban areas of West Azerbaijan Province

Wildlife plays a fundamental role in maintaining the complex balance of the ecology of tick-borne diseases, serving as both a host for ticks and a potential ecological role for the pathogens they carry. The present study investigated the presence of zoonotic pathogenic bacteria in hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus), a wildlife species found in the northwestern region of Iran. Specifically, the study focused on the detection of Francisella spp. using the PCR method. A total of 31 blood samples and 106 ticks collected from hedgehogs were analyzed. Among the ticks, 10 samples (n = 106; 9.43%; 95% CI: 5.20%-16.50%) tested positive for Francisella spp., while none of the blood samples (n = 31; 0%; 95% CI: 0%-11.03%) were positive. Furthermore, for the RD1 gene, which is used to identify Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica, 5 out of the 10 positive Francisella spp. samples showed positive results. In this study, the PCR method was employed to detect the DNA of zoonotic bacteria (Francisella spp.). Our findings demonstrated that ticks collected from wildlife, particularly hedgehogs, were infected with zoonotic pathogenic bacteria, including Francisella spp. The presence of these pathogens was confirmed using a nested-PCR approach. These results underscore the ecological importance of wildlife as key components in the maintenance and circulation of tick-borne pathogens, reflecting their central role in the intricate web of interactions among hosts, vectors, and the environment.